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 When
things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the
mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of
coffee....
A professor stood before his philosophy class and
had some items in front of him. When the class
began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and
empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf
balls. He then asked the students if the jar was
full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and
poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into
the open areas between the
golf balls. He then asked the students again if the
jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and
poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled
up everything else. He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with an unanimous
"yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from
under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar effectively
filling the empty space
between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that this jar represents
your life. The golf balls are the important
things---God, your family, your children, your
health, your friends and your favourite
passions---and if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like
your job, your house and your car. The sand is
everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the
sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no
room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same
goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy
on the small stuff you will never have room for the
things that are important to you. "Pay attention to
the things that are critical to your happiness. Play
with your children. Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical
checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play
another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix
the disposal. Take care of the golf balls
first---the things that really matter. Set your
priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired
what the coffee represented. The professor smiled.
"I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that
no matter how full your life may seem, there's
always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a
friend."
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